How do you describe D&D/RPGs to the great unwashed?

[roversaurus]

Yes, that's what I say. "It's like playing pretend."

Or I just say it's a complicated wargame.

And I only came to the conclusion that
I was just "playing pretend" recently.

I'd often wondered just what the difference
was. Is it a wargame? Is it "Co-operative story telling"?

No, the best description is "Playing pretend"
And I add " With complicated rules"
when I want to sound less childish.

campaign logs

 

[jmucchiello]

As others have said "Role-playing games are just like the childhood game of "Let's Pretend" except that the rules are actually written down."

Much later you can explain that the rules being written down doesn't stop grown people from arguing about them like 5 year olds.